Chapter 230
(The time of events has been adjusted for writing purposes.)
The air was turbid and noisy. After so many years in that quiet and deserted enclosed space, Rong Zhou was once again exposed to the noise outside. He couldn't tell whether he missed it or was annoyed.
This is a familiar world, but also a strange place. The asphalt road is mixed with the smell of rickshaw drivers' sweat, the aroma of various foods wafts from the roadside stalls, the smell of sheep water from the shops, and the smell of cheap cigarettes and faint opium coming from nowhere.
These smells are like this city, a mixture of prosperity and decay, making people feel slightly smokey and suffocated.
The ding-ding-ding sound of trams and the horns of foreign cars mixed together, Western skirts and cheongsams were swaying, and high-nosed foreigners and hunchbacked beggars were all on the same street.
It has been a few days since he was thrown into Shanghai, and Rong Zhou still hasn't figured out what Lu Erbaiwu is thinking. He touches his chest which still aches slightly.
"Hi, Zhou, your beauty is still so fascinating, filling this small cafe with holy light. Look at those people stealing glances at you."
Hearing such an exaggerated British accent, Rong Zhou withdrew his gaze from the street outside. In front of him was a foreigner with a high nose and deep eyes. He was obviously dressed up in a small swallowtail suit, and his brown hair was combed into a meticulous slicked-back bun, so neat that even a fly would slip on it.
"Stephen, it's not very nice to compliment a man's beauty here." Rong Zhou didn't expect that after so many years, he still hasn't forgotten the English he learned back then. He was a little rusty so he spoke slowly.
"Ah, Zhou, your language is as beautiful as opera. Meeting you is the greatest gain of my trip to the East." Stephen, Rodswayne exclaimed in admiration once again. He was very glad that he met the unconscious Zhou on the way back to his residence from the church on the rainy night a few days ago.
This must have been God's guidance. When he first saw Zhou lying unconscious on the ground, he thought it was a wounded angel. He drove away a few beggars before looking for the unconscious Zhou. This was the wisest thing he had ever done.
Were foreigners of that era really that boastful in their speech? Rong Zhou was somewhat used to it. Fortunately, Lu Erbaiwu had the memory to change his eye-catching white hair before throwing him out, and even changed him into a more modest outfit.
Not wanting his exaggerated words to attract the attention of the other people in the coffee shop, he asked Stephen to sit down: "Thank you for your care these past few days. I have almost recovered now. I am saying goodbye to you this time. I have some things at home that I need to go back to take care of."
"Zhou, I know you are a prince in distress, and there are things you must do."
...Rong Zhou didn't even want to complain about what the foreigner was thinking. He felt that his English was not proficient enough and there was a communication barrier.
"I sincerely invite you once again. Come back to the Empire with me. There's war here, and you'll be as easily withered as a flower in a rainstorm. My father runs a factory in the Empire, and you and I can still live like princes if we return to the Empire."
...Rong Zhou once wondered whether the English of this period was several generations behind the English of later generations, which is why it was so difficult to understand.
"Stephen, I just want to thank you for your help back then. I don't want to be a canary in someone else's hand. I refuse your invitation." Rong Zhou's expression was serious. He didn't want to continue chatting with this foreigner about such a boring question. He took out a packaged gift box from his pocket and opened it to Stephen: "This is a thank you gift."
The gift box contains a set of dark purple gem earrings, forehead ornaments, head ornaments, rings, and bracelets, all made into flower-like shapes with extremely delicate techniques, with holy silver as branches and dark purple gems as embellishments. It is absolutely the pinnacle of craftsmanship.
"This...! This is what you were wearing when I first met you." It was because of the careful embellishment of these accessories that Stephen determined at a glance that Zhou must be the prince.
Rong Zhou was thrown out by Lu Er and had nothing on him except the clothes. Fortunately, the clothes that could speak were all made according to templates, so they were naturally exquisite and gorgeous.
"I can't take these things, Zhou. They are yours."
"This is the only thing I have now. Don't you think it's worth it?"
"No, no, Zhou..., I..."
"If not, just take it. I'll give you as many of these as I want when I get home. This can be considered your gold mined in the East."
The little foreigner in front of me has been talking like a faucet that can't be turned off these days, spewing everything out. Of course, he also said why he came to the East. Because there were some minor problems in the factory at home, he came to the East, which was full of gold, to pan for gold. So far, he has achieved nothing, and the funds he brought with him are almost exhausted. He is already planning to buy a boat ticket back to the empire.
"Then...then what are you going to do?"
"I pawned my clothes and used the money to buy a train ticket. I still have some money left, enough for me to go back home." Rong Zhou pushed the wooden box towards him again.
"Zhou~."
The affectionate call ended with a melody, and Rong Zhou was startled. He quickly raised his head to see what was going on, and saw that Stephen's eyes were like a puppy's, and there were tears in his eyes.
"Speak nicely and don't use your aria, or I'll leave now."
"Zhou, the biggest gold I found this time in the East is you. I will never forget you in my life, Zhou."
"Okay, then do you remember my name?"
"Ruo Zhou."
"Wrong, you pronounced both words wrong, you'd better forget it."
This time Stephen's eyes were filled with tears.
"Zhou, I have a younger sister. Next time I come to Dongfang, I will introduce my younger sister to you. Then..."
Rong Zhou always felt that the people he met talked a lot. The big monk was one of them, and the one in front of him was also one of them.
After enduring two hours of endless chatter and parting with Stephen reluctantly, Rong Zhou left without any regrets. Wearing a suit and without even a suitcase, he walked to the train station without a rickshaw.
He wanted to see more of the Shanghai of this era, a more real Shanghai compared to the various movies about Shanghai in his memory.
Without skyscrapers, it is still the pearl of the world. At that time, Shanghai Railway Station is the busiest and most influential transportation hub in China, with people coming and going in a constant stream.
The station building is British-style, large in scale, with advanced facilities and some modern elements. There is a wide square in front of the station.
Seeing that it was still early, Rong Zhou found a place to sit in the square. He did not rush into the station and watched the people in the square.
There are gentlemen in suits and ties, graceful ladies in cheongsams, as well as ragged refugees, porters and hawkers who work hard to make a living.
"Sir, do you want cigarettes? Lao Dao brand, Lao Dao brand cigarettes." A woman in coarse cloth took out a pack of cigarettes from the box on her neck. Yes, it was Lao Dao brand.
Rong Zhou took a quick look at it. He didn't smoke and had no intention of buying it, but he was curious about this brand that often appeared in movies.
"Laodao brand, Laodao brand cigarettes, the tobacco is so golden and fragrant~!" The woman saw that it was a good choice and recommended it even more strongly. She took out a cigarette and was about to put it into the customer's hand. She was very good at judging people. The man wearing a clean suit and with fair skin was obviously a wealthy man with a thin skin. If she put the cigarette in his hand, he would definitely buy it.
"Uh." Rong Zhou was a little flustered by the woman's sudden action.
I didn't notice at all that there was another kind of noise mixed in with the noisy sounds.
Suddenly, the noise became louder, causing some people to look around, but they still couldn't find the source of the noise.
Boom, boom, boom, violent explosions sounded one after another.
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